Albania (Alb. ‘Shqipëria’), the ‘Country of Eagles’, according to the legend, is a republic in Southeast Europe, officially known as the Republic of Albania.

It extends along the northwest edge of the Balkan Peninsula. Lying between the Orthodox East and the Latin West, Albania was among the remotest provinces of the eastern state formations in which it was a part (primarily the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires). Its limited natural resources, compact mountain-chains, swampy plains and inaccessible shores which cut it off from most of the arterial roads of the Balkan Peninsula made it but of strategic importance for ‘eastern’ powers expanding westwards, or ‘western’ powers expanding eastwards.

In the beginning of the 15th century the regions of Albania came under Ottoman rule and did not have its dependence gained before 1912 and internationally recognized before 1918. From 1944 to 1990, Albania was a staunchly Communist state, while in 1991 Albania began its transition to a democratic state and market economy. Thereafter, Albania has become a rapidly developing state, in spite of its 1997 troubles.